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Teaching about photosynthesis with simple equipment: analysis of light-induced changes in fluorescence and reflectance of plant leaves

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Abstract

Solar energy absorbed by plants results in either reflection or absorption. The latter results in photosynthesis, fluorescence, or heat. Measurements of fluorescence changes have been used for monitoring processes associated with photosynthesis. A simple method to follow changes in leaf fluorescence and leaf reflectance associated with nonphotochemical quenching and light acclimation of leaves is described. The main equipment needed consists of a green-light emitting laser pointer, a digital camera, and a personal computer equipped with the camera acquisition software and the programs ImageJ and Excel. Otherwise, only commonly available cheap materials are required.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Professor Helen Ghiradella for gift of a laser pointer, to reviewers and editor for great improvement, and to Professor Mary Norval for language polishing. We dedicate the article to Professor Govindjee at the occasion of his eightieth birthday.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China

    Lars Olof Björn & Shaoshan Li

  2. Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22467, Lund, Sweden

    Lars Olof Björn

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  1. Lars Olof Björn
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  2. Shaoshan Li
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Correspondence to Lars Olof Björn.

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Björn, L.O., Li, S. Teaching about photosynthesis with simple equipment: analysis of light-induced changes in fluorescence and reflectance of plant leaves. Photosynth Res 116, 349–353 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-013-9858-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-013-9858-6

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